10 signs a real estate career is for you

Whether you're in a career slump and looking to make a change, graduating from school and deciding what career path is best for you or simply thinking about the reasons you love your real estate career, the start of a new year is a perfect time to reflect.

I asked some Team ERA members to share their thoughts about why real estate is the industry for you, and below are their expert insights.

Scott Wilkinson, broker and owner, Wilkinson ERA Real Estate

1. You have the drive to be your own boss

Although technically, especially as a new agent, you will be working under a broker, you will still be responsible for determining your schedule, pushing through your leads, developing your network and ultimately making the sales. To be fully successful, you'll need to cultivate your personal business style.

2. You enjoy marketing

Real estate marketing is constantly evolving, with cutting-edge tips, tricks and new platforms. Immerse yourself in understanding the ROI of marketing so you can choose the elements that are most effective for you and your market.

Sue Yannaccone, COO, ERA Real Estate

3. You love a challenge

Let's face it, selling real estate is not always a simple task. Whether your challenge is a home that's lacking curb appeal, a market that's not working in your favor or simply a crunch for time, embrace it. Learn from your peers and mentors, and enjoy the feeling of knowing you found a solution.

4. You thrive in an environment with no ceilings.

The sky's the limit, and you're reaching for the stars. Real estate offers the opportunity to grow continuously - whether your goal is to grow your business, expand your network or move up the ranks. If you're someone who appreciates limitless possibilities, this is the industry for you.

5. You are entrepreneurial

Beyond being your own boss, having an entrepreneurial mindset is key. The difference is in the level of strategy you put behind your decisions and the forward-thinking mentality you maintain.

Martha Rogers, agent, ERA Courtyard Real Estate

6. You have a well-rounded sense of self

A truly great real estate professional has a healthy balance or a desire to serve others, a respect for oneself and a willingness to follow good business practices.

One or two of these characteristics will help an agent to succeed, at least for a while. But when all three are practiced together, a good agent will build a successful business that will prosper long term.

7. You possess both tenacity and flexibility

Selling real estate requires a person to be persistent and, at times, stubborn. However, at the same time, you have to be able to remain flexible when it matters - all because you have your clients' best interests in mind.

Lucinda Brasington, VP of operations, ERA Wilder Real Estate

8. You are solution-oriented

Excellent client relations and problem-solving skills are of the utmost importance in real estate because your clients are your network, and your network drives the referrals that keep you success moving. Hopefully, if you're interested in real estate, you inherently have a desire to help others, so let that shine through.

9. You want to fully immerse yourself

Although it's possible to sell real estate as a secondary career, new agents' best bet is to jump into the business full-time to get their feet wet and absorb all the key lessons they can. This approach will set you up for success from the start.

10. You maintain a positive outlook

As the saying goes, change is the only constant. That is particularly true when it comes to the housing market, so even during a downswing, radiate positivity and good things will come.

Real estate is an exciting industry to be a part of, and hopefully, these signs will help you understand why. In my opinion, the most exciting part of working in real estate is that it is ever-evolving, and our community of dedicated professionals continues to grow with a new generation of agents and brokers working their way up the ranks.

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The online real-estate brokerage Redfinrecently reporteda surge in the number of searches from people in the Bay Area looking for homes in other places. Seattle was listed among the market areas seeing a big increase. So I asked the firm if they could share some more of their data.

They did, and the data shows that for Silicon Valley folks hoping to relocate, Seattle is the No. 1 city in the country — or at least in the 36 states, plus Washington, D.C., where Redfin operates. So far in 2015, 1 out of every 8 home searches by a Silicon Valley flight risk is in the city of Seattle.

It’s no mystery why people are leaving the Bay Area.

The median price for a house in the greater San Francisco / San Jose market has now surpassed $1 million. As Redfin’s report notes, even though tech jobs in Silicon Valley pay better than anywhere else, they still don’t pay well enough to offset the ridiculous cost of housing.

A software developer in Silicon Valley makes about 12 percent more than one in Seattle, but a home there costs 86 percent more.

And for tech workers looking to move to Seattle, here’s some good news: We’re hiring. According to a 2012 Forbes/Praxis Strategy Group study, Seattle is leading the nation in the creation of tech jobs in recent years. We posted 12 percent growth in tech employment over a two-year period, and 7.6 percent growth in STEM jobs — higher even than Silicon Valley.

Redfin’s data shows that folks interested in relocating here from the Bay Area seem to prefer city living — 2 out of 3 searches in our market are in Seattle proper. Still, four other cities in the area made the Top 25: Tacoma (No. 16), Bellevue (No. 17), Issaquah (No. 22) and Everett (No. 24).

The top neighborhood here by far is West Seattle, which garnered nearly 13 percent of the search activity in our market. In fact, West Seattle is not just the No. 1 neighborhood in Seattle. It’s No. 1 in the country. They don’t call it California Avenue for nothing.

I spoke with Shelby White, owner of West Seattle Realty, who told me he’s seen evidence of the uptick. He says the Bay Area buyers he’s been working with find West Seattle appealing because of its family-friendly lifestyle and the reasonable home prices — you get more bang for your buck than in Queen Anne or some other desirable neighborhoods in North Seattle.

“You can still get a pretty great house in a walkable area near one of the Junctions for $750,000,” White says.

Great, I’ll take two.

Kidding aside, it’s true — that must seem like an incredible bargain to someone battered and bruised by the Bay Area housing market.

Queen Anne and Ballard round out the Top 3 Seattle neighborhoods, in that order.